Aeroplane.



J. M. C. BRYANT.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED APRA/16, 41911.

Patented Jan. 5,1915.

J. M. G. BRYANT.

AEROFLANE.

APPLICATION FILED Amma, 1911,

atented Jan. 5, 1915.

10 SHEETSA-SHEET 3.

. www@ f J. M. C. BRYANT.

AEROPLANE.

` APPMGATION FILED AP11.26` 1911. 15.123,1?. Patented M115, 1915.

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www/www5 1.1/1. c. BRYANT.

AEROPLANE APPLICATION HLBD APR.26, 1911.

Patented Jan.,1915.

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10 SHEETS'SHBBT 5.

J. M. C. BRYANT.-

Patented Ja11.5,1915.

10 SHBETS-SHBET 6.

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AEROPLANB. PPLICATION FILED APR.26,1911.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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J. M. G. BRYANT. ABROPLANB.

APPLXGATON PILED APILZG, 1911.

Patented Jan., 5, 31915.

l0 SHBETSSHEBT B.

www,

J.. M. BRYANT.

AEROPLANE.

APYLIOATION FILED Amma, 1911.

Pateutad M115, 1915.

10 SHEETSSHEET 9,

J. M. G. BRYANT.

AEROLANE.

APPLIOATION .FILED APILZB, l911.

Patent Jem. 5, w15,

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JGHMA. STILL, CF BBAADIEGBZD, PENNSYLVANIA, AND UNE-FOURTH T0 JQSEPH L.

HENRY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YF'K.

annemarie.

Maaate.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, 301th M. C. BRYANT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aero planes; and Ido hereby declare the following to he a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart ft'owhich it appertains to make and use the's'lame.

My invention has for its object -to provide an improved flying machine,and to this end, generally stated, the invention consists of the noveldevices and combinations of de vices `hereinafter described and definedin the claims.

More specifically statedthe improved ilying machine involves primarilythe structure of an aeroplane, but secondarily includes certain of theprinciples of the helicopter.

The monoplane type of aeroplane is employed in the preferred form of thedevice. The body frame has an arched metal top constructed of bowedtubular metal ribs, and an arched main or center plane of hood-like formis extendedlongitudinally of the machine and secured to arched top ofthe lsaid* body frame. rThe wing planes extend from the opposite edgesof the arched main' or center plane and their inner front portions areconnected try-*the body frame by sliding joints permitting verticaladjustments thereof so that the said wings may be deflected withoutwarping or unduly straining the wing trames. mmediately under "thearched center plane or hood is a paii'y'oi long reversely driven spiralpropeller-s, and belowand at the rear of these spiral propellers is amain propeller. The rudder is located at the rear or" the` mainpropeller. An elevator plane is supported in .front of the long spiralpropellers, and means is provided for vertically adjusting the rearportion thereof, for varying the angle of said elevator plane, asrequired, to

control the ascent or descent of the machine under forward movement.incorporated in thc'illevator plane is an elevator propeller of novelconstruction and the employment ot which embodies the helicopterprinciples in the aeroplane. Several engines. preferably of theexplosive type are carried bythe body the l Patented aan. si, lala.

frame and are provided with driving connections to the severalpropellers. t

'.lhe preferred form of the improved machine 1s illustrated inaccompanying drawings wherein like lfchanacters indicate like partsthroughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the completemachine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of the machine; Fig. 4 is a plan view with some parts brokenaway and with the lanes removed; Fig. 5 is a plan view of t .e carriageshowing the same dis connected from the machine body; Fig. 6 is a frontelevation of the machine with portions of the planes broken away andwith the carriage removed; Fig. 7 is a side elevation with some partsbroken away showing the parts illustrated in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is afragmentary plan view showing the elevator plane and. the elevatorpropeller which is incorporated therein; Fig. 9 is a vertical sectiontaken on the line :r9 ot Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a detailed View chiey inside elevation but with some parts broken away and some parts sectioned,showing a portion of the body trame and the means for adjusting theelevator planeg- Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken on the line ce ceof Fig. l0; 12 is a vertical section taken on the line m w12 of Fig. 1G,some parte being broken away and showing also the adjustable connectionbetween one of the wing planes and the body plane; Fig. 13 is a verticalsection taken on the line m13 rc1 of Fig. l2; Fig. 1t is a detail vinplan showing the connection between one ci" the carriage wheels and thecarriage frame; Fig. l5 is a vertical section taken on the line mi w1 ofFig. 1li, some parts being broken away; Fig. 16 is a de tailillustrating the preferred construction of the spiral propellers; andFig. 17 is an edge elevation showing one of the hinge connectionsbetween sections of the spiralV propeller. i

The body frame and the carriage frame of the machine are both lightskeleton structures, preferably made from aluminum tubing suitablybraced and the two tramesv entirety by the numeral 2. The former-isprovided with curved top lribs 1a to which a hood-like curvedcenterplane 3 is laced, or otherwise secured, so that except for its ownfleixibility,it rwill remain stationary in respect to the said ribs.This centerplane 3 extends longitudinally of the machine and,preferably, a fuel tank 4: ofcurved form. is secured to the body frame 1immediately below the central portion of the centerplane 3. This tankv 4is shown as provided with' a normally closed filling nipple 5 on top andwith' depending oil'delivery pipes 6 which lead to the, various engineshereinafter de scribed, (see particularly Figs. 6 and '7).

The carriage frame 2 is supported, when u the machine rests upon theground, by four rear ofthe machine, is pivoted to a light light wheels,to-w'it, two front wheels 7 and two rear wheels 3.v The two4 rear`wheels 8 are the steering wheels and are shown as journaled to wheelbrackets .9 (see Figs. 2, 5, 14, and 15), that are pivoted at 10 to therearf corners of said carria e. frame.

The Wheel brackets 9 are provide with iii-- wardly extended armsllconnected to steeringcables 12.

he aeroplane rudder 13 which 1s at the yoke-likemi'udder support 14which, at its front portion., is rigidly attached to the frames 1 and 2.`The pivot shaft 15 of this rudder is provided with oppositely project:ing arms 16 to which the rear ends of the steering cables 12 areattached, as best shown in Fig. 5. In this way the steering wheels andthe rudder are connected for sir' multaneous steering movements 'so thatWhen'the machine alights upon the ground, the steering wheels will beproperly positioned to continue the movement of the ma- 12), which, inturn, are connected for double pivotal action to supplemental heads 18,by means of links 19. asprovided with Yrounded heads that are looselyseated in the said heads 17a and 18. The heads 1S are connected forsliding movements on short vertical guide bars 20 that are oflset frombut rigidly secured to upright front posts of the body frame 1.

The heads 18, and hence, the front inner Iportions of the wing planes 17are adapted to ybe given simultaneous vertical adjust- The links 19 areshown v beam 21, arc Connected by toggles 24; to the said adjustableheads 18 and the intermediatejoints of these toggles 24 are connected tothe upper ends of a wing adjusting cable 25. The lower interinediateportion of the win'g adjusting cable is wound upon and operated by asheave 26 (sec Figs. 3 and (3), the shaft of' which is journaled in asuitable bearing 27 on the lower portion of the body frame and isprovided with an operating wheel 28. By rotation ot' the wheel 28 andsheave 26 the inner front portions of the Wing plane 17 will besimultaneously adjusted in reverse directions, that is, when one istilted down, the other is tilted up, so as to thereby control themachine in guiding, balancing, and turning corners or when being broughtinto contact lwith trick winds. The same control of the wings may beaccomplished by taking hold directly of the walking beam 21, so thatthere are always available two sources of control of the said wings. yfront portions are preferably dished or upwardly bulged at 1lb so thatthey will catch the air with greater force and lifting eficiency underforward movement.

The elevator of'the machine is in the form of a plane located at thefront of the machine' and ahead of the wings and central or bottom planeand havin its rear portion vertically adjustable. This elevator plane ismade up of a marginal trame 25) andthe Both wings 17 at their" ioc planesurface which is attached to the said frame is made up preferably kof athin aluminum plate 30 and a light canvasI section 31, both of which'areslightly arched. The aluminum plate 30 is provided with a large openinglined with and secured to a light aluminum channel 32. The channel 32 isspanned b v a light aluminum bridge bar 33 carrying central hub 33".

The numeral 31 indicates a short approximately vertical shaft which, atits upper end, is journaled in but held against endwise movements inrespect to the hub 33 of the bridge bar v The` numeral 35 indicates thehub and the numeral 35 the rim of an approximately horizontal elevatorpropeller that is pro vided with a multiplicity of angularly adjustablepropeller blades 36. The wheel hub 35 is rigidly secured to the shaft 34immediately below the bearing hub 33 andthe wheel rim 35 is guided bythe channel 32. Rotation of the shaft 34 revolves the saidelevatorpropeller. For angularly adjustiastate ingr the propeller blades36., oblique ribs 37 are attached to one edge thereof at their outerends and at the inner ends are pivotaily attached to an adjusting sleeveB8 a that is mounted to slide on the shaft '34. A coiled spring 39anchored to the Wheel hub and the sleeve 38 exerts a torce tending tolift said stem 38 and through the rods 37 normally yieldingly holds thepro hase of the bodfy frame 1 'and terminates 2o in a hand piece ft2Within reach of theoperator (see F1@ '7). e

For adjusting the rear portion of the elevator plane, the rear ends ofthe side bars of its frame 29 are pivotally connected by links 43 (seeFigi 10), `to vertically 'ad justable heads 44 mounted to slide on yertical guide bars il5 spaced from but rigidly.'

secured to the vertical rontbars of the body frame 1. The heads 44 areshown as pro- Elo vided with anti-friction wheels 46 that Work.

between the bars 45 and adjacent frame posts. The adjustable heads 44are attached to the upper ends ot' elevator cables 47, the

. lower portions oi' .which are joined 'and' B5 Wound upon andcontrolled by a sheave 48 carried by the lover end of anobliqueoperating post 49 mounted in suitable bearings on the base of the bodyframel and provided at its rear upper end Withan operatind Wheel 50,Within reach of theoperator.

he heads at the rear ends of the elevator .trarne 29 arepivotallyconnected to curved vf'levers or rocker arms 51 that areinterlfmediately pivoted to `brackets '52 on the front posts or bars ofthe frame 1 (see Figs.

v 7 and 10). The rear ends ot' the rocker arms 51 are attached to theother ends of the elevator cables 47. By the cable and lever connectionsjust described, the entire rear end portion of the elevator plane muy,

as is evident, be positively raised by rotation of the steering post 49in one direction and positively drawn downward by rotation of the saidpost 49 in theA opposite direction.

The aeroplane is arranged to be driven -forward b v three propellers,two of which are in the form of long spirals located immediately underand partly inclosed at its top and sides by the hoodlike main or centralplane 3.y The lthird or main propeller is preferably ylocated below andat the rear of the long spiral propellers and is in the form 'ot' areversible blade propellerof any l of the well known types. The longspiral "`tivin propellers 53 are carried by shafts 54 said shaft 62 by aflexible shalt l0 (see lii journaledin suitable bearings in the iront,intermediate and rear cross bars of 'the body frame l, and, preferably,each such pro peller is made in two sections slightly spaced at theiradjacent `ends to afford spare on one of the said shafts tor a sprocketlili and a shears 5o (see "7) and on the other shaft for a sheave 5'?.@ne et the spiral Propellers has a right hand and the other a left handturn and they are connected .for simultaneous rotations in reversedireotions5 by means of a crossed belt 58 (see Fig. 6) which runs overthe sheaves 56 and 57. These spiral propellers may be constructed in avery great many different Ways but should be very light and yet strong,and to make the same collapsible for shipping purposes` they may be madeup of sections '54 (see Figs. 16 and 17) connected by hine'e lugs 59pivotally connected on long rods all extended radially from and securedto the said shafts 5l. The sections 54:3 may be made from very lightaluminum sheets.

The main, or reversible propeller Gil is carried by the rear end ot" themain driving shaft 62 mounted in suitable bearing brachets 63, 64 and 65secured on the base of the main frame 1. The blades ot the reversiblepropeller 61 are adapted to be set at any desired angle on either sideot' a neutral plane, by means ot a horizontally reversing arm (36 whichis controlled by an adjusting A screw 67 mounted on 'the rear bearingbracket Gfllsee Fig. 7). sprocket chain 68 runs over the sprocket 55 ofthe lett hand propeller shaft 54 and over a sprocket 69 carried by themain shaft 62. ln this Way9 the long spiral propellers are driven. Jfromthe main shaft 62. A

The elevator propeller which is mounted in and forms a part of theelevator plane is 4also vdriven from the main shalt GQ, and to this end.the shaft 3ft is connected. to the 2., 7 and 9). A suitable clutch lldiaigraur matically illustrated in Fig. 7 and controlled by an arm 72serves to connect the spiral shaftd to the driving shaft b2 will. Thisarm 72 is shoufn as yn'ovided with a.

be engaged by the hand and which islshown as attached to 4,the steering;post t9, but is not controlled by movements thereof., the

latter simply serving; as a support tor the lower rear end oi saidcable.

'Thmthree propellers oil-5S and h1 are arranged to be driren. as shown.by three engines. to-Wit. a large explosive engine Tl. and two smallerexplosive engines i and lo. All of these engines are suitably supportedfrom the base ot' the body frame 1 and the large engine Tl is located onone side thereof While the two small engines To and are located on theopposite sides and preferably on the same side as the opcratorls seat7?.

ita

ist

short operatingn cable i3 which is adapted to T11Y All of the enginesare preferably located in front of the operators' seat.

rlhe crank shaft 78 of the engine 74: is adapted to be connected by anordinary friction clutch 78 to ari-axially alined shaft 79 mounted insuitable bearings on the base of the main frame 1 and provided With asprocket 80. A sprocket chain 81 runs over the sprocket 80 and over thesprocket 82 on the main driving shaft 62. The clutch 78 is adapted to bethrown into and out of action,at will, by a lever 88 which, in turn, iscontrolled'by a foot lever 84 adapted to ,be operated by the foot of theoperator while he is seated on the seat 77.-

The crank shafts of the engines 7 5 and 76 are adapted to be connected,at will, to the carrying shafts of the sprockets 85 and 86,respectively, by horizontal friction clutches 87 and 88. The clutches 87and 88 are adapted to be controlled respectively by foot levers S9 and9G which are also Within reach of the operators foot. The said footlevers 8!) and 90 are connected to the clutches 87 and 88 throughsuitable intermediate links and levers 91'and 92 (see Fig. 4).

ln the horizontal plane, the outer portions of the frames of the wingplanes 17 are tied to the sides of the frame of the elevator plane bycables 93, and to the top of the rudder supporting yoke 14 by cables 94.The tips of the wing frames are tied to the central portion of the archtop of the main frame 1 by cables rThe front portion of the frame 29 or'the elevator plane is tied to the front of the arch top of the bodyframe 1 by a cable 96, and the intermediate portion ot' the top of therudder supportingr yoke 14 is tied to the rear portion of the arch topof the body frame 1 by cables 97.

The tips of the Wing frames (see Fig'. 3) are tied to the truckfrain'e'il by. cables 98 which are detachably connected to the saidlrame at 99.l The front portion .of the frame 29 of the elevator planeis tied tothe front of the truck frame Q by a cable 100 de-v tachablyconnected thereto at 101 (see Fig.

2). In this way, the wing planes, the elevator plane, and the ruddersupport are thoroughly braced and tied together without requiring anyparts of the structure to be heavy.

The body frame 1, it will be further noted, by reference particularly'toFigs. 2, 3, 6 and 7. is ot peculiar and novel construction, well adaptedto withstand torsional or other strains. to-wit, the front and rear endarched ribs la thereof are brought downward at the sides in the Jforniof inverted bows 1b of approximately seniicircular form and their lowerportions are tiedv `together by a transverse rod or tube 1 suitablyconnected thereto by securing means 19 that is rigidly secured to thebody ol" the truck frame 2. I`

Operation: s already stated, the aero `requires a pull or .driven sothat the oscillative force thereof will he neutralized and there willbe.no tendency for the saine to-rock the machine. They operateimmediately below the arched main or center plane 3 and they draw the-air under the latter, partly from above and partly from below theelevator plane and thus increase the efficiency of the latter. Theycarry the air ra idly under the said arched center plane an bycentrifugal force throw the blast 'ofl air violently upward against thesaid plane,thereby increasing the carrying efficiency of the saidJla'ne. The air blast `carried thereby is directly'over the head of theoperator and is dischar ed rearward approximatel in line with t e upperportion of the rud er. l

The main propeller 61 to some extent operates in conjunction with thelong spiral propellers 53 and'to someextent operates independentlythereof. Its upper portion assists in blowingthea-ir rearward .from thesaid spiral propeller while its lower portion creates an independentsuction and draft below said spiral propellers and it directs the blastof air directly against the front edge portion of the rudder. The rudderis thereby made sensitive and efficient.

The inclination of the elevator plane in front of the hood or centerplane will vary lthe upward or downward travel of the aeroplane and ,thelifting efficiency thereof may be verygreatly increased by starting theelevator propeller into action and then pulling on the cable 40 so as toopen or obliquely set the propeller blades 3G. On the other hand, whenthe lpropeller blades 36 are pulled into oblique positions when theelevator propeller is not driven, the supporting surface of the elevatorplane is thereby leal-eased. This will, therefore, facilitato andaccelerate the, lowering of the aeroplane.

The propeller incorporated in the elevatorplane and for that reasonherein designated as the elevator propeller, incorporates the helicopterprinciples in the aeroplane. It is important, however, to remember thatthe blades of the elevator propeller are'automatically closed so thatwhenever released, they become parts of the supporting surface of thesaid elevator plane. To

hold the said blades in oblique positions while the elevator propelleris in operation tension on the' so-called elevator cable 40.

The arrangement of the long spiral proideama pellers under thecentral-plane or arched hood, with the elevator plane in front of saidspiral propellers so that air is drawn from both below and above thesame and also the arrangement of the main propeller at the rear of thespiral propellers, and further, the arrangement of the rudder at therear of the main propeller and somewhat belou7 the spiral propellers,are all features which, severally and combined, give buoyancy andbalance to the aeroplane and make the same sensitive to the variousdevices intended for its control..

The feature or' mounting the inner front portions off the Wing' planesin vertical movements-in respect to the body trame is very important.and distinguishes the same from prior constructions wherein the Wingsaref'.

rigidly attached to the body frame and require, in warping them, to bedistorted and twismted against very considerable resisting force" in theWings themselves, and'a corresponding tendency to break the Wings whengiven quick and extreme warping movemnts. With the vloose jointconnections at the points noted, to' deflect or vary the angle of theinner front portions ont the Wings and the objectionable features notedare avoided. lt also makes the Wing planes very sensitive and responsive"so asto control the Hight in turning corners, or in going up ordescending, or, in .other Words, enables the operator to hold thebalance oli the main body of the plane and prevent the same 'fromturning turtle, ii' the engineshould, for some reason, suddenly stop, orfrom being tipped Winds..

The various levers and devices for controlling the engines are not shownbut may be of any of the well known constructions which, however, aswell controlling levers and various other noted controlling devices,will all be preferably located within the reach of the operator seatedon the seat 77,

The pivotal` connections of the Wing planes and of the elevator plane tothe body frame enables the same to be thrown upward into verticalpositions, simply by detaching the lower ends of their anchoring cables98 and l0() from thetruclr frame i2. .lt is, of course, understood thatthe double pivotal connections between the said planes and body iframeadorded by the links 19 and 43 vwill permit the said vertical upwardmove- 'lhese adj ustments ments oi. the said wings.

in the first are highly important because,

tions, and yielding means itis made an easy matter over byv trick as thefoot actuated clutch v ribs of said i'ra1ne,a cross bar and coperatwoulde impossible to move the aeroplane .with its wings extended.

lWhat l claim is:

l.` An aeroplane having an archedcentrally located main plane and Wingplanes projecting from the opposite sides thereof, of reversely drivenspiral propellers located immediately below said main lane, and athirdor main propeller locatedJ at the rear ot and below said. reverselydriven propellers and said main plane.

2. In an aeroplane, the combination with main supportingplanes andpropelling means, oi' an elevator plane having an elevator propellerincorporated therein, the

said elevator propeller having adjustable blades movable to and frominclosed positending to close said adjustable propeller blades. p

3. In an' aeroplane, the combination with main supporting planes andpropelling means, ot' an elevator vator propeller incorporated therein,the said elevator prdpeller having adjustable blades movable to and frominclosed positions, yielding means tending toA close said adjustablepropeller blades, and a connection extending from said elevatorpropeller for opening the blades thereof.

4. ln an aeroplane, the combination with an engine driven propeller fordriving the 9" machine forward, of an elevator propeller adjustablymounted' as an entirety in irontv of said-propeller so thatpart of theair will be drawn over and part under said elevator propeller.

In an aeroplane, the combination withy a Wheel equipped truck frame, ofa body frame comprising arched ribs and inverted curved side bars unitedto the arched end ing means connecting said body and truck frames,supporting planes applied to the said bodyrame, and the same.

ln testimony whereof I aiix my signatur in presence o two Witnesses.

`JN M. C. BRYANT.

Witnesses: i i

Guo. DANA'SEssroNs, Fimvann l?. F. RONAN.

plane having an elei means for propelling

